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Justice News

Department of Justice

U.S. Attorney’s Office

Western District of New York

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Monday, July 1, 2013

10th Street Gang Member Sentenced on RICO Charge

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- U.S. Attorney William J. Hochul, Jr. announced today that Michael Hernandez, 24, of Buffalo, N.Y., who was convicted of Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Conspiracy, was sentenced to 57 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Richard J. Arcara.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Joseph M. Tripi, who is handling the case, stated that from 2000 to 2010, the defendant was a member of the 10th Street Gang, a criminal enterprise engaged in racketeering activity. As a part of his involvement in the 10th Street Gang, Hernandez arranged the sale of a .38 caliber handgun and an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle between 10th Street Gang members. In addition, along with other members and associates of the gang, Hernandez conspired to distribute cocaine, crack cocaine, and other controlled substances on the West Side of Buffalo, New York as a part of the affairs of the 10th Street Gang.

The sentencing is the culmination of an investigation on the part of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, under the direction of Richard M. Frankel, Acting Special Agent in Charge, the New York State Police, under the direction of Major Michael Cerretto, and the Buffalo Police Department, under the direction of Commissioner Daniel Derenda.